you don’t need a house to vote

This is a big election, folks! Half of the King County Council and all nine of the Seattle City Council are up for (re)election. Voting is important and helps ensure that people’s voices are being heard. Encourage our whole community to take part! Help ensure that every eligible voter is registered and votes in this November 3 General Election.  

Read important details about registering people to vote below, plus, volunteer with the Coalition on Homelessness’ Voter Registration Drive: Thursday September 24 – Monday October 5! Contact Hillary for more information & to sign up!

Voter Registration Deadline for Nov. 3 General Election: Monday, October 5

General Election date: Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Registration information and tips – Here’s a few helpful tips and important information.  Please use our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters for more specifics about helping those who don’t have a house register.

• Print this half sheet condensed version of our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters.  We recommend sharing it with people you work with and are helping register to vote.
• Registration Deadline: Monday, October 5 for mail or online new registrations & updates
  • In-person registration for *people not currently registered in Washington State* is available until Monday, October 26, 2015 at King County Elections Offices:
    • Renton HQ: 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057-2906
    • Seattle Office: King County Administration Building: 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle, WA 98104
• Do I need an address to vote? 
  • Residential address: MUST be filled out: You need to list a residential address to be placed in your district. You can register at the shelter, park, vehicle location, intersection, or another identifiable location that you consider your current residence if you do not have a traditional residential address. Provide as complete of an address as possible (ex: 4^th Ave & Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104).
  • Mailing address: You need a mailing address in order to receive your ballot and election information on time.  You can use a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, or General Delivery at a local post office.  See our guide for places to receive mail in the county, such as Compass Housing Alliance (77 S. Washington St, Seattle, 98104).  If you work at a place where clients can receive mail, they can use that address as a mailing address.
• Felony conviction?  Individuals convicted of felonies automatically regain their right to vote once they have completed their time in prison and no longer are under Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision. Visit the ACLU’s website for more information.
• What if I (or someone I am helping) am not sure if I am still registered? 
  • If you did not get a ballot in the mail in August for the Primary Election, your registration may have lapsed.  Because all voting is by mail, the state doesn’t want to pay postage if they aren’t sure if someone is still at the same address, so if a ballot is not returned for 2 years, they deactivate your registration.  If a person has access to the internet they can check their voting status here.
  • How to fix this? 
    • Fill out a new registration form, or complete a registration online.  It never hurts to send in a form even if someone isn’t sure if they need to or not, but it wouldn’t be fun to not receive a ballot during the election…better to be safe than sorry!

Voting in the November 3, 2015 Election:

• Ballots are mailed to voters 20 days prior to the election. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, October 19 call King County Elections: 206-296-8683
• Ballot drop boxes & Accessible voting
  • Locations and information will be available the first week of October on the King County Elections Website: Ballot Drop Box & Van Locations 
    • Accessible Voting Locations & Information

Homeless Voter Registration Drive:

• Thursday, September 24 – Monday, October 5
• What: With your help, we will go to highly accessed sites around the county to register homeless and unstably housed individuals to vote.  Shifts will be 2-3 hours, where you have the opportunity to make sure everyone knows that you don’t need a house to vote, and has information about voting rights being restored for people with Washington State felony convictions.
• Sign up to volunteer: contact Hillary.
• Want to host a voter registration drive at your organization?  Let Hillary know and she can make sure you have the materials you need. We want to hear how it goes and how many people you register!  Use this form to share your stories with the Coalition.

Remember, voting is a form of making one’s voice heard: people experiencing homelessness in our region need to be heard.  Let’s work together to make sure all eligible community members are registered to vote.